Alan Oaks didn't mince words when he was asked yesterday about a recent Baseball America college baseball preview that picked the Michigan baseball team to finish behind Indiana in this year's Big Ten standings.

“Guys see that and are really kinda pissed off about it, actually,” the junior outfielder/pitcher said at last night's "Meet the Wolverines Day" at Junge Family Champions Center.

The Wolverines have won the last three Big Ten championships and have been picked to win the conference for a fourth straight year by every other media outlet, according to Michigan coach Rich Maloney.

“It’s definitely a slap in the face,” fifth year senior tri-captain Tim Kalczynski said about the Baseball America prediction. “Especially after we’ve proven ourselves for the past three years. There’s definitely going to be fire in our bellies when we’re playing … It’s going to be good motivation for us.”

After a sluggish 5-5 start last season, the Wolverines rebounded and hosted their first NCAA Tournament Regional since 1986. Michigan came away with a split against Indiana in the two teams' only series of the season. But where last year’s Wolverines relied on sheer talent to conquer their conference foes, this year’s team will have to work hard for everything they want. That was the buzz during the “Meet the Wolverines” event, where Michigan players signed autographs and greeted fans.

The Wolverines will be vying for their fourth straight Big Ten championship, something that no Michigan baseball team has ever accomplished. The last time the Wolverines won three consecutive conference titles was from 1948-1950.

But the team is entering the new season without last season’s first six hitters and top pitcher Zach Putnam, who were all lost to either Major League Baseball or graduation.

Junior first baseman/pitcher Mike Dufek will replace Michigan’s 2008 batting average and home run leader, Nate Recknagel. Senior pitcher Chris Fetter will step into the No. 1 spot in the rotation, the role occupied by Putnam last year.

In the 2008 Major League baseball draft, the Cleveland Indians drafted Putnam in the 5th round and Recknagel in the 19th round.

Fetter is certainly a known commodity, as he went 10-2 with a 2.47 earned run average last season.

“It makes us step our game up,” Kalczynski said of Fetter’s presence on the mound. “He’s very consistent with filling up the strike zone. He gives us a chance to win, and that kind of forces us as batters and defensive players to be solid and to be the best that we can be ... There’s definitely more confidence when he’s on the mound.”

Fetter said instead of overpowering batters, he uses “baseball strategy” to get batters out. He stays effective by switching arm angles, throwing over the top and side-armed and throwing multiple pitches in both the top and bottom parts of the zone.

Dufek, on the other hand, will play a role from both first base and the bullpen. After throwing 95 miles per hour on the radar gun and originally being recruited by Michigan as a pitcher, Maloney made the decision to have Dufek pull double duty and serve as the team’s closer.

Maloney said yesterday that at the beginning of the season, he would play a “bunch of guys” and try different players at various positions. But at some point, he hopes to find a solid core of players who step up when called upon.

According to Maloney, the team’s motto this season is “embrace the challenge,” and it certainly will be one if the Wolverines make it to their ultimate destination – the College Baseball World Series. The last time a Big Ten team made the Series was when Michigan did in 1984.

“If we do have the chance of winning (the Big Ten), it will mean that much more because we weren’t picked to win,” Fetter said.

But even if the Wolverines are hoisting the conference championship trophy in May, they likely won't be satisfied if they again fall short of a trip to Omaha.